Weighing scale



J. w. amrca WEIGHING SCALE Aug. 9, 1932.

7 Filed Nov. 26. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

vwamtoz JAMES W. BRYCE Aug. 9, 1932. w. BR E 1,870,233

WEIGHING SCALE Fi1ed Nov. 26, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ventoz JAMES W. BRY CE Aug. 9, 1932. J. w. BRYCE WEIGHINr SCALE Filed Nov. 26, 1926 4 SheetsSheet 4 nventoz JAMES W. BRYCE Patented Aug. 9, 1932 'NTED srrss PATENT rier:

JAI1ES W. BRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DAYTON SCALE C01.

IANY, OF D AYTON, 0H10, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY WEIGHING SCA.LE

Application fi1ed November 26, 1926. ierial No. 150,735.

The invention concerns Weighing soales and more specifically seales of the pendulum type in which the load is ofiset by one or more pendulum systems which are rotad about pivot points in response to displacement of the scale beam. Scales of this type Wi1l weigh well within the limits of required accuracy if they are carefully leveled but in the case of high capacity scales it is often desirable to move them quickly from one place to another and such scales are often mounted on wheeled trucks for this purpose. In such a case no particular attempt is usually made to level the seale before Weighing on it and in many cases where weighing operations are to be performed at the entranoe ofa warebouse the scale may even be placed on a slight ramp causing it to tilt appreciably from its normal upright position. Errors in weighing from sueh tilting are due principally to the effects on the pendulum system and to the effects on the scale beam. It is customary t0 construet the scale so that the errors from these two sources compensate each other and thus cause a given load on the scaleplatform to efiect equal displacements of the index pointer when the scale is level or tilted to any reasonable angle. As the construction of the scale beam, platform and main levers is usually determined by considerations WhiCh make it impractical to adjust the tilting error in this section of the meohanism, the necessary adjnstment is ordinarily made in the pendulum system and this adjnstment forms part of the sealing process. T0 this end the pen dulums and pendulum supports are provided with a multiplicity of adjusting me'ans which must be operated concurrently during Sealing and the adjustment of each of which affeots the adjstment of each of the others, thus making the sealing process a tedions one requiring the services of a very skillful operator.

According to the present invention I construot the pendulums and pendulum supports so that all neeessary adjustments on eaon system may be made by a single adjusting device through which the center of mass of the pendulum weights may be shifted along a fixed predetermined line to change its moment about its pivot, thus permitting a single adjustment on each system to divide the weighing load as desired among the several systems and compensate for the tilting error. F urthermore as the adjustment on each system is limited to shifting the center of mass of the pendulum weight along a fixed lino the effect of a given adjustment on one system can be acCurately predetermined on the others.

'According to the preferred form of the invention each pendulum supporting structure without the pendulum weight is accurately balaneed about its pivot so that no unbalanced forces are efiectiv in this part of the:device. Preferablythis structure is in the form of a single piece which is balanced by filing or otherwise removing surplus material so that after the initial balancing When the scale is assembled no further adjnstment is nece'ssary. The pendulum weight is then afiixed to its support having its mass syminetrically distributed about a radial lino extending from the' pivot of the supporting structure. A11 adjustments of the system may then be made by shifting the center of mass of the pendulum weight along the radial line and sealing and all other necessary pendulum adjustments may be eiected by this simple adjustment. r

Scales of this tvpe also require each pendulum system to move in unison through equal angles in ofisetting a weighing load and .according to the preierred form of the invention only one .pendulum systeni is connected directly to the soale beam While the others are connected to the operating eam of this system. This ties the systems togetherso that any movement of one system in response to a weighing operation causes an equal movement on all others. Preferably a single flexible element or tape is used for connecting all the systems to the beam, the element bei1i fastened at one end to the soale beam and then extending s'erially to all the operating cams and sectors of the several systems, being fastened to each cam or sector.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a scale of the required aocuracy and in which the load oflsetting mechanism and its attaehment to the scale beam consist 0f new and novel construction and arrangement of elements.

A more speeifio object of the invention is to provide a seale Which is antomatically compensated for any reasonaole degree of tilting and in Which new and novel means are provided to permit sealing and adjnstment loi compensation.

Another object-otthe invention is to pro; vide a scale of the mnlti-pendrilnm type in which the several pendulnm systems:are .eon neeted to the scale beam by a single connecting devioe.

Another ohject of the invention is to pro- -vide a scale 'O" the mnlti-pendnhnn typein Whieh a single flexible olement eonneets the several pendnlum systems to the scale beam and distr*ibntes selected proportions et the loadto the several systems.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a scale in WhiCh all necessary adjnstmente on each pendulnm systemmay be made by a Single adjnsting device.

.Another object of the invention is to pro Vide a soale in Which the center of-gravit df'the penddlnm system may be readily shii:'t ed long.a=fixed line.

Another 'object of the invention is to provide a scale in WliiCh the load ofisetting mochanism consists of pendnlum systems conforming sbstantilly in their characteristics *t0 simple pendnlums.

The invention'is 1llnstratedin several exemplary embodiments in the aecompanying draWings which have been chosen rather with a viewtto Clearnessin diselosure than limitetion in structure and arrangement but which neveftheless inclnde preferred forms of the device. Reference Will now be had to the drawings whieh shonld iereadin connecti on 'With the following detailed description and in Whichthe saine reference nnmerals refer to 'the same parts thronghont the several views. Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the upper part Ofthescale standard Which is formed into a=casing for the load ofsetting meohanism and a .corresponding casing for the -scale meCh anism;

Fig. 2 shows a section on line 22 Of' levers to cause displacement of them dnring lns mechamsm is' Weighing operations. well known and has not been illustrated in the drawings. At one end of the base the hol1ow standard or cola-nm illnstrated in ragmentary form et in Figs. 1 and 2 snpported and is provided witlrtwoenlargements indicated -generally at21 and22 of which the former encloses *th scale ibeam -with its associ2ited meohanism and the latter formsa casing for the load off-setting mecha- *nism and supports the scale dial 23 with whioh the index arm 21 coaets. Themain levers of-the-scale may beeonnectedbymeans well known in theart with the steelyard 25 Wh0se upper end is formed .intoa hook and engages a shaokle26snpported by the scalo beam 27 todisplacethe latter in proportion togthe displacement:ot the main levers. T ho shackle '26 consists of two side plates j oined =by a short rod 28with .whichthehook end of the steelyard engagesand each side plate is provided with an aperture in eachotwhich is lodged a bearin g 2910 form a seat for.the knifeedges 30 fastened to opposite sides of the scale beam. The scale beam is :fulornmed on lznife edges 31 on.opposite sides thereof wvhiehseat in bearings 32 placed.ingtae clownwardlyextending=arms of a yolre 37snpportedby the standard 20. The knite edges 31 are ormedin-shafts'32aof-which th at extendingtoward the front otthe standard projects chrongh an opening therein and carries the tare beams 83 at its enter .endthus making 'the:tareadjnsbing weights 3 laccessible from the ontside oftheseale casii1g. Theopening inthe-standard is oovered by a plate 88 per- ..forated topermit the passage f the shaft 32a therethrongh chus providin dust-proof arrangement for connecting the tare beams to the soale beam. The scale beam27 is a;lever of the third order and itsnose carries a knife edge 41 seatedin abearing 42 supported by a yoke 48 Which is attached to thetape 44. :The tape 4A.in this case forme the single con necting linlpbetween the scalobeam and.the load offsettingmeChanism. The rear port-ion ofthe scale beam 27 is provided with a small casing l9 longitudinally of which extends a :feed screw45 for moving the Zero acljnsting weight 46 whieh may be locked in any adjusted position by set screw 4:7 A knurled bntton48 on the end ofth-e 'feexl screw permits adjnstment of th=e weight 46 when desired.

The oscillations ofxthe scale beam 27 in -response to chan es ot load on the scale plat- Which the tape 44 is attached'and the support ing structure et the pendulum 52 carries a sector member 56 to which the tape 44 is likewise attaohed, the tape being properly,guided With respect to the cam 55 and'sector 56 by a double sector 61 pivoted at 62. The sector surfaces on the members 56 and 61 are struck ofi by circular arcs from the pivot points 54 and 62. The cam 55, however, does not conform to an arc about its pivot 53 asit is formed to compensate for the changing moments of the ofisetting pendulums. The load ofi setting moment of each pendulum system is equal to the product of the mass of the pendulum times the sine of the angle which its arm makes with the vertical. But as this angle becomes progressively larger, the increment of its sine for a given change in the angle becomes progressively smaller and if the angular movement of the pendulum were the same for a given increment of load throughont its travel the load graduations on the scale dial wonld be unevenly spaced. The cam 55 as usual in scales of this type is designed so that in spite of the different ofisetting moments of the pendulum systems a given increment of load on the scale platform will alvvays cause an equal displacement of the index arm and consequently the graduations on the scale dial may be equally spaced from each other.

The index arm 24 is mounted on an arbor extending into the load offsetting casing and on which is fiXed a small pinion 68 coacting with a rack 40 mounted on the sector member 61. With the exception of the pendulums proper 51 and 52 all of these pivoted structures in the load offsetting mechanism are accurately balanced so that neglecting the weight of the pendulums they might freely come to rest in any position. In other words the actuating force of the load ofisetting mechanism is concentrated in the pendulum weights themselves which act in the manner of a concentrated mass suspended on a weightless rigid structure. This construction permits of easy acljustment of thependulum systems to cause each to take its desired share of the load and adjusting weights in the form of screws shown at 7 5 are provided for this'purpose. Preferably the systems are adjusted so that each takes one half of the load when the scale is level. Fig. 3 indicates the zero registern1g position of the scale parts and it Will be observed thatthecenters'f mass of the pendulums5l and 52 are notvertically beneath their pivot points but are slightly offset from this position. In other words the pendulums have been slightly rotated in op posite directions around their pivot points, the force for this initial displacement being applied to the tape 44 w hich is properly tensioned by the action of the scale platform and the main leverson the scale beam 27. This initial displacement of the pendulums when proprly chosen in accordance with the principles stated above provides for compensating all err0rs due to tilting as Will now be eXPlained.

' Fig. 4 shows a diagraihmatical representation. of the scale structure and forces Whei1 the structure is in normal upright position. The lines AA and AA represerit vertical lines of the scale structure, When the scale'is level. The scale platform is indicated diagrammatically at BB and although no operating con nections are shown it Will be understood that downvvard displacement of this platform causes the pendulums indicated at w to swing about their pivot points P and P as indicated. A weight WV on the scale platform is exerting a downward force on the scale levers and displacing the pendulums through an angle (9. 7

Each pendulum ofisets half the load and the ofi'setting moment of each pendulum is 201 sin9 or the total offsetting moment of the two is 210 1 sin 6. In this case the total gravitational pull on the weight W is effective in a direction normal to the scale platf0rm BB.

Referring to Fig. 4a a similar condition is shown with the scale tilted at an angle 8 to the vertical with the pendulums w still. displaced through angles 0 to the lins AA and AA respectively althongh in this case the pendulum to the left is displaced through an angle 0- 8 to the vertical and the pendulum to the right is displaced through an angle 6+8 to the vertical. In this case the load offsetting moment for the pendulum to the left is 101 sin (6-8) and for the pendulum .to the right is 101 sin (6+8) or the total of the load offsetting moment is the sum of these, namely 1 101 sin (6+8) +w1 sin (08=2w1 sin 0 cos*8.

If this total moment is s1ibtracted from the total moment derived with respect to Fig. 4

the result Will be the loss in efiective offset- 1 ting moment or" the penduluna mechan1sms due to tilting the scale. The difference in these moments is '2w1 sin 6-2ui1 sin 0 cos 8 2101 sin 0 (1COS 8) BB ,is hcn iz ontal and.the .gravitational force .of a Weight W ,placed thereon acts normal to its surface and is totally effective in displacing the scale levers. In the case of Fig. 4a, hoivever ,the platform BB .has been tilted thiough an angle 8 to the horizontal and the weight placed thereon is no longer fully effective in clisplacing the scale levers but only the ,component normal :to the surface of the platform BB is so efiec tive and this component is W cos8. The efi'ectivensss of the Weight W in displacing the scale levers bas thereforebeen redn.ced by an amount W-W cos 8 or W(l-cos 8) ovving to the tilting of the scale. But as the factor 1 cos 8 represents the proportional decrease in the moment of thekpendnlum systems as well as the decrease in the efiective pressure of the weight on the scale platform, it is obvions w that a 'given weight Will cause the same displa cement of the pendi1lum systems and conseqnently f the indicator hand regardless of whether the scale is level or tilted;

Thisefect, or course, resnlts from the normal offset of the pendnlnms about their pivots, and thecompensating effect is limited to an angle equal to the initial angle of offset of the pendulums as when this angle is exceedecl the moment of one of the pendulums Will be reversed in direction about its pivot and the compensating efitect destroyed. This angle may be made as large as desiredwithin reason, however and this feature presents no material limitation.

The explanation .thns far has acconnted for compensation for sidewise tilting but the scale may be tilted in an endwise direction. In this case the platform may also be inclined at an angle 8 to the horizontal and the effective component of a weight W in displacing the scale beam is again rednced to W cos 8. Here the arms of the pendulums, while maintaining their initial angle ot ofl'set about their pivots, are each inclined at an angle 8 to the vertical and as the gravitational pull on the pendnlnm weights still acts vertically downward the effective component of this pull on the arms is rednced to w 005 8 for each pendnlnm. Both the effective vveighing load and the effective ofsetting moment have again been clecreased by the saine factor, in this case cos 8, and a given weight on the scale platform causes a given displacement of the index arm in spite of tilting in an'end- Wise direction. Tilting in any other direction W1ll be compnsatecl for by a combination of these effects.

It is not essential that the pendulnms 51 and 52 be located horizontally opposite each other as shown in Fig. 3. If desired, they may be located one belovv the other as indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In Fig. the No. 1 pendnlnmis shown monnteddirectly below the No. 2 pendulunr and the rack for opera t ing the indicator arm is mounted on the No. 2 pendnlum. lVith this particnlar arrangement an intermediate guiding sector for the tape between the tWO pendulums may be nnnecessary. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement similar to Fig. 5 in the relative location of the pendnlunis but a guiding sector has been provided between the pendulnms and the indicator rack is monnted directly on the tape. Fig. 7 shows still another arrangement in which the No. 1 pendulnm is arranged above the No. 2 pendnlum and the rack for operating the. indicator arm is monnted on the No. 2 pendnlurh snpporting structure. In this case the guide sector for the tape between the pendulums is formed inte rally with the supporting structure 0: pen ulnm No. 1.

The modifications hitherto described are all .of the conventional type in which a weight on the scale platform provides the force for displacing the load ofisetting mechanism. It is qnite possible, however, to realize the advantages .of this invention in a scale in which the load offsetting devices are normally displaced .to the limit of their travel by a connterweight ,coacting with the scale beam and in which a load on the scale platf orm partially or .wholly balances the connter Weight to restore the load ofisetting devices toward their normal freely suspended positions. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8 in which a steelyard 125coacts with a scale beam 127 as in Fig. 3 but in which a counterweight 130 has been placed npon the scale beam betvveen its inlcruming knife edge 131 and its nose to tension the tape 144 and displace the pendnlums 151 and 152 to the limit .f their active travel. The steelyard 125 connecting the scale beam 12? with the main scale levers is placed on the opposite side of the knife edge 131 tothe counterweight 130. In this case a load on the scale platform tends to balance the counterweight 130 and permits the pendulnm l to move downward to effect operation ofthe indicating mechanism. The

index arm or pointer in this case is monnted on the intermediate sector and may play over a fan chart. lais arrangement presents some advantages which are not present in the other It Will be noted that if a arrangements. heavy vveight is thrown suddenly on the plat- -form of a scale of the conventional type a heavy impact Will be delivered to the connecting tape as there is very little cnshioning effct betWeen the platform and the points of atttchment of this tape to the scale beam. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, however, snch an impact tends to release the existing tension on the tape 1441 and therefore causes a .substa1itially smaller shockto the operating mechanism. Fnrthermore the most serions shock to a mechanism such as disclosed in Fig. 8 would occnr when;the weight was lifted oi the scale plat-forma and while it is quite possible ;to throw a heavy load suddenly on a scale Platform it is practically impossible Under normal operating conditions to remove it as suddenly. This of Course relieves the scale of its worst operating strain.

The invention has now been described in regard to several physical embodiments which represent the preferred forme in WhiCh it may be practiced. It is obvious, hoWever, that many modifications of the structure and arrangement of element will *readily ocour to those skilled in the art and that the improvements in whole or in part may be applied to other soales of widely difiering charaoter1stics; for example, even a scale which is fixed may be provided with this type of mecha- -nism in which case careful leveling of it Will not be essential, and its cost of installation consequently redu-ced. The invention 1s 1ntended to be limited therefore only as indi- '20 cated by the soope of the following claims:

1. A scale comprising a plurality of pendulum systems, a scale beam and a single ele ment having a connection at one endto said beam and connections at other points to each 'of said systems for connecting said beam to all of said systems to distribute a load therebetween.

2. A Scale comprising a plurality of pendulum systems, a scale beam and a single continuously extending flexible element connecting said beam to each of said systems to distribute a load therebetween.

3. .A scale comprising a plurality of pendulum systems, ascale beam and a flexible tape having one end connected to said beam and its other end connected to one of S aid systems and connected at intermediatepomts to the other systems[ '4. A soale comprising a plurahty of pendulum systems, a scale beam, a single element for interconnecting said systems t0gether for conjoint operation and forconnecting one only of said systems directly to said scale beam. 7

5. A scale comprising a plurality of pendulum systems one of which is provided with an oPeratin g cam and the remainder of which are each provided with an operating sector,

a scale' beam, afiexible element oonneoting said cam to the beam and a flexible element bonnecting said oam and eabh sector to the sector of another system 1ndependently of the scale beam.

6. A scale compr1smg a. pair of pendulum systems one provided w1th an operat1ng oam and the other With an operating sector, a soale beam, a flexible element'connectmg said beam to "said cam and a flexible element connecting said cam to said sector.

7. A scale comprising a plurality of pendulum load ofistting mechanisnis, a scale beam, a single element h. ving a connection adjacent one and to said beam and having connections at other points to each 'of said mechanisms for connecting 'said beam to eaoh of said mechanisnis to proportion a l0ad there* between, means for ofsett1ng sald meohanisms to the normal limit of their travel when the scale registers zero and means for counterbalancing said last named means in response to weighing-yerations( 8. A scale comprising};a plurality of pendulum load offsetting mechanisms5 a scale beam, a singleflexible element having a connection adjacent one end to said beam and another independentl of the scale beam, to 4.

-efl'ect conjoint operation of'all said mechanisms, meansooacting With said beam to initill offset s aidpendlum mechanisms about their pivots to the limit of their normal travel and means'for counterbalancing said last nmed means in response to weighing operations.

1O In a} Weighing scale, a load oifsetting mechanism c0mprising a rigid and integrl pendulum support1ng structure *with fixed non-ad;ustabl configuration freely Supported on a pivotand inhereiitl v balanced therabout for all vveighing positions and a pendulm vvight supportedbn 'sid structure eccentrically of said pivot.

11. In a w'eighinzscale a load offsetting mechanism comprising a penduluni supportin'g cam-faed structure with fixed non-adjustable configuration freely supported on a 'n1vot and balanced tbereabout for all weiszhmg positions and a single resultant pendulous counterbalance subnorted on said structure eccentrialltof said' pivot and baving its mass uniforml distributed about a predetermined, fixed radiallin aextending-from the pivot. f 7 A 12. In a weighing scale a pendulum system consisting of a rigid structure freely mounted on a pivot and including a single adjusting means-for varying themoment of inertia thereof by shiiting the center of mass of said structure substantially along a fixed radial lime extending from the pivot to the center ofmass of saidstructure.

13. In a vveighing scale, aload offsetting meohanism comprising an integral pendulum supporting structure With fixed non-adjustable configuration freely supported on a pivot and inherently balanced thereabout for all Weighing positions and a pendulum woight mounted on said structure eccentrically of said pivot.

14. In a weighing scale, a load ofi'sotting mechanism comprising an efi'ectivoly intogral non-adjustable supporting structure freely supportod on a pivot and balanced thereabout for all weighing positions and having a face non-arouately disposod about the pivot, a pendulum weight mountod on said structure eccentrically of said pivot and means for adjusting the center of mass of said pondulum weight in a fixed radial direction to the pivot point.

15. In a weighing scale, a load ofisetting mechanism comprising an integral non-adjustable pendulum supporting structure froely supported on a pivot and balanced theroabout for all woighing positions, a pon- .dulum weight mountod on said structure ecoentrically of said pivot and a single adjusting elomont for shifting the conter Of mass of said pondulum weight along a fixed radial lino oxtending from said pivot.

16. A weighing scale comprising a scale boam, a pair of load offsetting mechanisms interconnected for conjoint operation in response to a weighing operation and each consisting of an integral non-adjustablo gupport-* ing structure froely .supported on a pivot and balanced thereabout for all Weighing positions and a pendulum weight mountod on each structure with moans for adjusting its conter of mass along a radial lino from said pivot, an oporating cam fixod to' one of said load offsetting mechanisms and a fiox iblo element connecting said cam to said scale boam.

17.. A weighingscale comprising a scale beam, a pair of oppositoly acting load offsgatting mochanisms eabh consisting of an integral non-adjustable. supporting structure freely supported on a pivot and balancod theroabout for all. woighing positions and a pendulum woight mountod on oaoh, structure with means for adjusting its conter of mass along a radial lino from said pivot, an oporating cam fiXed to one of said load ofisotting mechanisms, a flexible clament connecting said cam to said scale beam, an operating sector connected to the other of said mechanisms and a flexible elemont connecting said sector-to said cam.

18.In a weighing scale, a scale-boam, a

pivoted load offsottinp; pendulum with an adjustable elemont shiftable' solely 'along a radial lino joining the center of mass of the pondulum with its pivot point and an operating oam in fixed non-adjstable angular ro lationship to the l ne joining the pivot point and Conter of gravity of sai d pondulnni and moans operatively connectingj said cam to said boam.

' 19. In a weighing scalo, a scale boam, a

pivoted pondulum suppoi*ting structure balancod about 1ts pivot and providod with a pendulum woight thereon, an adjustablo cloment for said pendulum weight mova,blo solely along a radial llne joining its conter of mass with its pivot point, an operating cam supported on said structure in fiXed nonpivot, a structure balanced on the pivot and having all the parts thereof mechanically integrally constructed in invariable relationship to each other t0 render the structure inherently incapable of any adjustment for disturbing the balance of the structure, a counterbalance associated with the structure, an indicator associated with the structure,

said struoturechaving a cam connected tosaid t load rosponsive member for oausing'equal incroments of load acting on said momber to ofi'oct qual movements of the indicator..

22. In a soale such asdefined in claim 21, said .counterbalance comprising a single pndulous mass iigidly oarr ed by saidstru turc and adjustablo only in one predotormined, radial direction.

23. In a scale, a load rosponsive member, a rockable pondulous unit, anindicator associated with the unit, the unit having a cam face connected to said member for causing oqnal movemonts of the member to *efiect equalmoements of the indicator, said unit having an effective pendulous mass making the unit pendulous .only along a fiXed, predotermi1ied, radial direction, all the parts of said unit being mochanically constrncted to ronder the rnit inherently incapable of any adjustment t0 disturb the radial direction along which the unit is pondulous;

24. In a scale, a load responsive mombor, a pendulous load counterbalanco, a rockable structure assooiatod with the counterbalance and havinga cam surface for compensating variat ons in the effective moment arm of the counterbalance as the latter movos to difierent angularpositions, said cam surface and the moment arin of the counterbalanoo being relatively non-adjustable angularly, a device supported separatoly from the rockable structure, a 'connection betweon the latter and the devioo, an indicator oporatod by the dovice, and means connecting the cam surface with the load responsivo mombor.

25. In a scale, a load responsive membor, a pair of 'rockable structures, oach balancod about its axis, counterbalance means associto the load responsive member and adapted to compensate for variations in effective resistance of the counterbalance means as the latter moves to difleremt angular positions, 5 and means interconnecting the structures for common movenient.

In testmony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

J AMES W. BRYCE. 

